7 Ways to Incorporate Practicing Gratitude Into Your Daily Routine

When you think about changing your life, you often don’t think about a small, daily habit you can practice. The impact these small things have on our lives can sometimes be so profound, it’s crazy that we aren’t focusing on them more. Practicing gratitude is one of those small daily changes that has a profound impact on our overall mindset, well-being and health. Below, I’m going to walk you through 7 ways you can incorporate practicing gratitude into your daily routine and why you should be (also be sure to check-out the free 30-Day Gratitude Challenge below)!

What Gratitude Is

As defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary, gratitude is “a feeling of appreciation or thanks”. Practicing gratitude is the ability to acknowledge and notice the good things that happen in our lives, and be able to appreciate these things. This could be a relationship we have with someone, a quality we possess, a small win, etc. Expressing gratitude shows no limits.

Why It’s So Important

Practicing gratitude literally changes your brain. Although it can take some time to notice the lasting impacts, practicing daily gratitude is shown to improve your mental health and well-being! You can read more here! In addition to literally changing your brain, practicing gratitude is also proven to help you sleep better, improve your self esteem, improves your physical health and more!

7 Ways to Incorporate Practicing Gratitude Into Your Daily Routine

There’s no bad time to start practicing gratitude, so why not start today? Take a look at 7 different ways you can incorporate practicing gratitude into your daily routine!

1. Make a List

Whether you decide to practice gratitude in the morning or right before you sleep, make a list of three things you are grateful for (to start). As you grow with your practice, you can add more as you grow.

Need help getting started? Here are 10 things to be grateful for:

1. Waking up each morning.

2. Being surrounded by family and friends that love and cherish you.

3. Your pets.

4. Having a roof over your head.

5. Sunshine.

6. Being employed.

7. Having the ability to take a deep breath.

8. Food in your fridge.

9. Good health.

10. A soft bed to return to.

2. Say Thank You Often

No good deed is too small to say thank you to. Say thank you when others help you out, when they do something unexpected, when they do something you asked. Simply saying thank you makes others feel appreciated, and in turn shows your own appreciation.

Related Post: How to Become the Best Version of Yourself

3. Live in the Moment

Being present in the moment is something grateful people try to do. Living in the moment means you’re not preoccupied with the past nor future, and are instead giving your full attention to the people and events you’re surrounded by.

If you’re someone who struggles with living in the moment, you can try grounding – lying on the ground, walking barefoot or submersing in water. You can also try the 5-4-3-2-1 technique:

5 things you can see

4 things you can touch around you

3 things you can hear

2 two things you can smell

1 thing you can taste

4. Reflect When You Make a Mistake

Mistakes don’t always have to be a bad thing. With every mistake there is a lesson to be learned. Ask yourself – what could you have done differently? What is there to be learned? Reflecting on your mistakes and looking for positive aspects within them is something grateful people do.

5. Journal

Writing down what you’re thankful for is one step further than simply thinking about things you’re grateful for. Writing down the things you’re grateful for is shown to cultivate more positive thoughts, and reinforce feelings of gratitude. Spend five minutes every day or other day writing down the things you’re grateful for!

6. Surround Yourself With Gratitude

Seeing really is believing. Surround yourself with positive gratitude quotes as a daily reminder to practice more gratitude. Put a reminder in your phone, hang up gratitude quotes and make it nearly impossible to move without seeing something related to gratitude! Constantly being surrounded by it will be a great way to remind yourself and help you build this habit!

7. Reframe How You Think

No one is perfect, you’re going to have days where you are feeling off, down or upset. It’s okay to have these emotions! When you notice yourself feeling these emotions and having negative thoughts, try to re-wire them while they’re happening.

For example. Instead of saying ‘I have to go to work today’, say ‘I get to go to work today.’

Try re-framing your thinking to be more positive and watch your life change!

I’m hoping these tips will be helpful in your journey to incorporating gratitude into your daily routine. Have any other tips for success? Let me know in the comments!